ATHENS, Greece – Fears of an imminent Greek exit from Europe’s joint currency receded Sunday after the conservative New Democracy party came first in a critical election and pro-bailout parties won enough seats to form a joint government.

As central banks stood ready to intervene in case of financial turmoil, Greece held its second national election in six weeks after an inconclusive ballot on May 6 and the subsequent collapse of coalition talks.

With one party advocating ripping up Greece’s multibillion-euro bailout deal, Sunday’s election was seen as a vote on whether Greece should stay in the 17-nation group sharing the euro currency.